There is a better way to run a lab

Experimental Designs Consulting

Managing to make science easier

At EDC, we believe science is the focus. We believe with the right management system, scientists can focus on what they do best, science. We create an adaptable and teachable management system capable of initiating and sustaining an academic laboratory. To date, there has not been a successful system that does not require an experienced lab manager. At EDC, we now have developed that system.

EDC Founder, Damien Wilpitz, has spent the last 12 years directing his attention toward understanding inefficiencies in academic research institutions. He has identified 4 key management components: Operational, Personnel, Financial and Research management. He and his team have acquired expertise in current methods of management practices, and have selected the best systems and techniques to create a basic adaptable skeletal system. It has proven the ability to increase productivity by capitalizing on all available resources. Our management strategy focuses on the growth and flexibility of laboratories by correcting key inefficiencies with readily actionable improvements. These efforts serve as the EDC template, resulting in the development and expansion of ambitious laboratory environments.

Our management modules will enable labs to operate at a capacity optimized for scientific productivity.

Operations Management

Personnel Management

Data Management

Setting up a new lab is one of the most exciting and daunting challenges I have faced. Friends and colleagues at a similar point in their careers are excellent resources, but they face the same time constraints and pressures in developing their own research programs. Continue reading...

Charles Kaufman, M.D., Ph.D., Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Damien was absolutely instrumental in the whole process of finding the right faculty position for me. At every step of the way, Damien gave me great advice, helped me to refine my vision and showed me how to ask for exactly what I needed to succeed. Continue reading...

I feel so lucky to have found Damien during the process of applying for, negotiating and accepting my first faculty position. The transition from postdoctoral fellowship to professorship is a challenging and exciting time. Having someone like Damien on my side made all the difference. Damien has worked with scores of young scientists and help them to establish independence. Continue reading...

Ami Bhatt, M.D., Ph.D. , Stanford School of Medicine

I have known Damien since he became the lab manager for the new lab next door to my postdoctoral lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. I witnessed firsthand his impressive skills at managing a rapidly growing and successful lab. When I learned of his professional consulting business, and was ready to start my own lab, I knew right away that I would need his help. Damien was instrumental with helping me to plan my lab’s budget for the first 5 years and to negotiate my startup package. continue reading

Kira Gritsman, MD. PhD., Albert Einstein College of Medicine

As I was getting ready to start my own laboratory, I knew right away that I wanted and needed Damien's help. I first met him in 2007 as a post-doctoral research fellow at Children’s Hospital Boston. Over the years, I witnessed the rapid expansion of Ben Ebert’s lab at Harvard Medical School and Damien was able to manage that growth every step of the way. He anticipates needs and streamlines processes so that the primary focus of everyone else in the lab can be on the science. continue reading...

Anupama Narla, MD. Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine

I am very happy to say that when I started my laboratory at Sloan-Kettering Institute, I was extremely lucky to have the support, guidance and experience that Damien provides. He was able to get my lab to the quickest start with us culturing cells and performing experiments within the first week of opening the lab. Every lab regardless of the size would benefit from the wisdom and expertise that he brings.I am not sure where we would be today without his help organizing and making sure everything was in its right place from the get go. continue reading...

Michael Kharas, PhD Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

I went to Damien with the scientific aims from my chalk talk. From this, he developed a detailed budget for the first five years of my lab. With this, I was able to negotiate back and forth with the hiring institution to get the best possible start-up package I could. I was also fortunate that Damien helped me hire my first technician. He filtered out tens of candidates through CV review and phone screening. He pre-selected three candidates for me to interview, with whom we each met with separately. We ultimately decided on one candidate who has worked out great. Having Damien's expertise saved me a huge amount of time and also reduced my stress levels considerably...continue reading...

Ann Mullally, MD. Dana-Farber/ Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center

I’ve known and worked with Damien Wilpitz since 2007 when he was hired as the manager for the newly formed laboratory of Dr. Benjamin Ebert where I was beginning my post-doctoral fellowship. I was impressed with how quickly Damien demonstrated his experience as a skilled technician and his ability to manage and to organize what became a rapidly growing organization. Researchers outside of our group would come to Damien asking for advice on how to start up their own labs. I saw him help with every aspect of their transition including how to hire new members, how equip the lab, how to manage inventories and orders, and how to monitor expenditures and budgets – all aspects of running a lab that are critical for newly independent faculty but for which they are typically under-prepared to do well. When Damien formed Experimental Designs... continue reading